Shantanu Maheshwari: I genuinely enjoy being part of youth-centric shows, that space feels natural to me

The success of Campus Beats has been significant, especially among young viewers, and for Shantanu Maheshwari, it feels familiar. “In my head, I’m still 24,” Shantanu says. “I’ve matured in some aspects, but not in everything. I genuinely enjoy being part of youth-centric shows. That space feels natural to me.”

Having earlier built a strong connection with audiences through Dil Dosti Dance, he says growth has been intentional. “I have the right people around me. Their guidance helped me move past certain phases. Discipline and motivation — that’s what kept me consistent.”

What matters most to him now is variety. “If I keep playing the same prototype again and again, I’ll get frustrated,” he says. “Campus Beats was different — different character, different energy. That’s important for me as an actor.”

He is clear that repetition does not excite him. “If someone calls me to do the same kind of role again, someone else might do it better — because that vision belonged to that director at that time,” he explains. “You can’t recreate the same magic. It won’t feel organic.”

For Shantanu, evolution is non-negotiable. “You have to keep evolving. Audiences evolve, storytelling evolves, and you have to evolve with it,” he says. “Otherwise you get stuck.” He adds, “I’m not chasing labels. I’m chasing growth. Every project should challenge me in some way. That’s the only way I’ll stay interested.”